onlivehttp://www.maximumpc.com/taxonomy/term/7385/
enOnLive Reemerges with Two New Gaming Serviceshttp://www.maximumpc.com/onlive_reemerges_two_new_gaming_services_2014
<!--paging_filter--><h3><img src="/files/u69/cloudlift.jpg" alt="CloudLift" title="CloudLift" width="228" height="128" style="float: right;" />Down but not out, OnLive returns to the cloud gaming scene</h3>
<p>Remember OnLive, the cloud-based streaming game service from several years ago? After <a href="http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/onlive_implodes_and_re-born_life_support_all_one_day">imploding</a> and then laying low for quite some time, <strong>OnLive is back under new leadership and with a couple of new services in tow</strong> -- a new streaming subscription program called CloudLift and a new service it's calling OnLive Go. Why should you expect a different outcome this time around?</p>
<p>For one, there's some new blood flowing through OnLive's veins. Mark Jung, a former IGN and VUDU executive, is OnLive's new executive chairman, while former Electronic Arts director of partner management Carrie Holder is OnLive's VP of business development. OnLive also hired former Disney Interactive VP Rick Sanchez and some other talent.</p>
<p>Secondly, OnLive is taking a different approach this time around.</p>
<p>"After examining what gamers really want and need, we realized that we could do a better job for them by not trying to be their everything, and to do for them that for which we are uniquely suited," <a href="http://blog.onlive.com/2014/03/05/the-respawn-of-onlive/" target="_blank">OnLive stated in a blog post</a>. "In other words, our new CloudLift service improves the user experience by enabling gamers to both download/play their games locally when they are on a platform capable of it (i.e. gaming computer), while still enjoying the benefits of OnLive’s portability when they are not."</p>
<p>CloudLift is a subscription-based service that runs $15 per month (you can sign up for a free 7 day trial). It links your game library with your game OnLive account and syncs cloud saves, allowing you to move from one platform to another and pick up where you left off. It will launch with 20 games and have more added over the next several months.</p>
<p>The other service being introduced is OnLive Go, which adds cloud functionality MMOs and other virtual worlds, including Second Life.</p>
<p>As far as the backend infrastructure goes, OnLive now has half a dozen data centers (up from four server locations), a scalable business model, 95 patents (up from 14), and around 100 employees (down from over 200).</p>
<p><em>Follow Paul on <a href="https://plus.google.com/+PaulLilly?rel=author" target="_blank">Google+</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/paul_b_lilly" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Paul.B.Lilly" target="_blank">Facebook</a></em></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/onlive_reemerges_two_new_gaming_services_2014#commentscloudcloudliftGamingonliveSoftwarestreamingNewsWed, 05 Mar 2014 18:30:30 +0000Paul Lilly27388 at http://www.maximumpc.comSquare Enix Announces Project Flare Cloud Gaming Servicehttp://www.maximumpc.com/square_enix_announces_project_flare_cloud_gaming_service_2013
<!--paging_filter--><h3>Game publisher aims to improve upon OnLive’s technological missteps</h3>
<p>Square Enix has announced <strong>Project Flare</strong>, a cloud gaming service similar to what OnLive offered back in 2010. Unlike OnLive, however, the game publisher asserts that the company’s service will offer a “technological breakthrough in cloud gaming.”</p>
<p>While Project Flare is similar to OnLive, there are a number of key technological differences. Instead of using physical computers to stream game data, Square Enix is using virtual supercomputers in the cloud. The company showed us 57 game instances running on a single server. The games included Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Final Fantasy XI, and other pre-existing Square Enix games. The company asserts that its virtual supercomputers will be able to handle many more instances of games that are built from the ground up to take advantage of Project Flare. &nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="thickbox" href="/files/u154082/project_flare.png" target="_blank"><img src="/files/u154082/project_flare_1.png" alt="project flare" title="project flare" width="620" height="457" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Here's a layout of how traditional game streaming services work.</strong></em></p>
<p>Furthermore, Square Enix says that future games that take advantage of Project Flare will be able to use open source APIs to incorporate data from Google Maps, Google Traffic, and other open source programs to create more realistic worlds.&nbsp;</p>
<p>One of the biggest areas where Project Flare differentiates itself from OnLive is with its use of processing power. The company asserts that other gaming streaming services constantly have to switch between CPU and GPU usage and this creates an inefficient processing bottleneck. Square Enix says that with Project Flare, it will be able to share system resources and dole out the appropriate processing power (CPU or GPU) as necessary. With this, Square Enix asserts that the more players that log onto a particular game, the less latency the end user will experience. For instance, if 10 players are playing through the same level, rather than rendering 100% of the level 10 times, Project Flare will intelligently pool the rendered assets together to achieve processing efficiency and reduce redundancy. The company asserts this will cut down on lag. This is achieved by going down to the DX level of each title, which was something that systems like OnLive did not do.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u154082/project_flare_2.png" alt="project flare 2" title="project flare 2" width="620" height="446" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Square Enix's Project Flare will use cloud-based virtual supercomputers to stream data.</strong></p>
<p>Furthermore, Project Flare will also allow game developers to use different dedicated servers for different tasks. For instance, there could be three separate servers that respectively manage the rendering engine, AI, and physics. In theory, this should free up processing power for developers that build their games with Project Flare in mind.&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zb1aTkgbZPE" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Deus Ex Project Flare Demo</strong></em></p>
<p>Square Enix showed us a demo of <em>Deus Ex: Human Revolution</em> running with two different servers in tandem. One server acted as the game renderer whereas the other server managed the game’s physics. In the demo, we see a robot blowing up a bunch of boxes to where they all impressively tumble down the screen. Because there is a separate server that handles the physics, there is no hit to the rendering engine’s framerate. &nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u154082/project_flare_3.png" alt="project flare" title="project flare" width="620" height="429" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>The difference between how typical streaming services handle processing power and how Project Flare works.</strong></em></p>
<p>The service is still in its early stages and when we asked what platforms it would appear on, Square Enix said it should be supported on PCs, tablets, and will in general be “platform agnostic.” So far the company is working with other developers and revealed that Ubisoft is also on board. In addition, the company is currently talking with several data companies to have it roll out across North America.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u154082/project_flare_4.png" alt="project flare" title="project flare" width="620" height="427" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Project Flare aims to leverage rendered processing data across the cloud.</strong></em></p>
<p>While the technology certainly sounds interesting, Square Enix is also banking that widespread adoption of fiber Internet will soon be in our future. What do you think of Project Flare? Let us know in the comments below!</p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/square_enix_announces_project_flare_cloud_gaming_service_2013#commentscloud gaminggaikaInternetonlineonliveproject flareSquare EnixstreamingubisoftGamingNewsTue, 05 Nov 2013 23:29:19 +0000Jimmy Thang26639 at http://www.maximumpc.comNvidia at CES 2013: Project Shield Console, Tegra 4, and Onlive Style Cloud Gaminghttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/nvidia_ces_2013_project_shield_console_tegra_4_and_onlive_style_cloud_gaming
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u46173/geforceexperience_0.png" alt="Nvidia GeForce Experience" title="Nvidia GeForce Experience" style="float: right;" /></p>
<h3>Nvidia steps up their consumer play in 2013.</h3>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.nvidia.com">Nvidia</a></strong> CEO Jen-Hsun Huang <a href="http://www.nvidia.com/object/ces2013.html">took to the stage at CES 2013 Sunday night</a>, and proved his company is poised to do more than just ship high end GPU’s. The charismatic young CEO announced his intention to take on cloud gaming, showed off his iPad 4-smashing Tegra 4 SoC, and even debuted an Android powered handheld gaming console.</p>
<p><strong>Project Shield</strong></p>
<p>Project shield is difficult to define, but let’s give this a shot. It’s essentially an Xbox 360 controller, with a 5” 720p multitouch display built onto the top, running a stock version of Google Android on a Tegra 4 processor. From a hardware perspective, that just about sums it up. From a software standpoint however, that’s only the beginning.</p>
<p><a class="thickbox" href="/files/u46173/shield.png"><img src="/files/u46173/shieldthumb.png" alt="Project Shield" title="Project Shield" width="405" height="259" /></a></p>
<p>The Project Shield handheld will have access to the Google Play Store, and PC Gamers with a desktop GTX 650 or higher (GTX 660M or higher for mobile), can stream any PC game to the handheld to create a mobile PC gaming experience. In addition to the GPU’s listed above, your system will also need to have an Intel Core i5 or better (no mention of AMD), 4GB of system memory, the latest GeForce drivers, Windows 7 or 8, and an 802.11 a/g/n router. The GTX 650 or higher requirement apparently has something to do with Keplers built in H.264 video encoder, a technology they claim allows for “ultra-low latency” streaming.</p>
<p>The Shield handheld console also contains an HDMI output, which at least in theory, would give users the flexibility to pipe PC games into any HD TV. Wireless woes and latency could ultimately make this little more than a pipe dream, but until we get a chance to test it out for ourselves, Nvidia deserves the benefit of the doubt.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a class="thickbox" href="/files/u46173/shieldinaction.jpg"><img src="/files/u46173/shieldinactionthumb.png" alt="Project Shield in Action" title="Project Shield in Action" /></a></p>
<p>Pricing and availability wasn’t announced during the keynote, but we expect more details to emerge in the coming days.</p>
<p><strong>Tegra 4</strong></p>
<p><a class="thickbox" href="/files/u46173/tegra3layout.jpg"><img src="/files/u46173/tegra3layoutthumb.png" alt="Tegra 4 Layout" title="Tegra 4 Layout" width="405" height="198" /></a></p>
<p>Tegra 4 is Nvidia’s next generation high end SoC solution for smartphones and tablets, and while it has some similarities to Tegra 3, architecturally it’s a completely new animal. &nbsp;Tegra 4 features four high end Cortex-A15 CPU cores, along with 72 GeForce GPU cores. The low-power companion core that debuted in Tegra 3 is back, but as far as we can tell it’s only active for low performance tasks, or standby mode. Tegra 4 is also rumored to be a die shrink over its predecessor, dropping from 40nm down to 28nm.</p>
<p>On the performance side, Tegra 4 looks impressive, but that’s never easy to gauge. Performance on ARM SoC’s are awkward to report on, and notoriously difficult to test. OEM’s love to throw up numbers such as 2x faster, however in a live demo they did indeed demonstrate a prototype Tegra 4 tablet doubling browser performance of Google’s flagship Nexus 10. Since it’s impossible to confirm details such as browser versions however, I’d recommend taking these results with a grain of salt. Claiming dominance over Apple’s A6X is no small accomplishment however, and If true, this would definitely make Tegra 4 the current king of the SoC’s.</p>
<p><a class="thickbox" href="/files/u46173/tegra4performance.png"><img src="/files/u46173/tegra4performancethumb.png" alt="Tegra 4 Performance" title="Tegra 4 Performance" width="405" height="165" /></a></p>
<p>The lack of integrated LTE, and steep power requirements will probably make Tegra 4 a more popular choice for tablets, but only time will tell. Nvidia’s spent a great deal of time hyping up how Tegra 4 improves camera results, so clearly they at least hope a few handset makers will take a look.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>GeForce Grid</strong></p>
<p>GeForce grid was probably the least “consumer” based announcement, but it was interesting nonetheless. The Grid is an Nvidia server rack, packed with 20 modules, and over 240 GPUs. The result is over 200 TFLOPS of performance, or to put it in console bashing terms, 700 Xbox 360’s. Huang put this in perspective by saying that 700 Xbox’s 360’s would take up over 10 racks.</p>
<p><a class="thickbox" href="/files/u46173/nvidiagrid.png"><img src="/files/u46173/nvidiagridthumb.png" alt="Nvidia Grid" title="Nvidia Grid" width="405" height="217" /></a>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Grid is clearly aimed at Onlive style business models, where 3D cloud rendering power is in demand. Nvidia will likely be trying to peddle the Grid to your local cable or phone provider, with the hopes that others will want to continue to build on what Onlive started.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>
<p>Nvidia is continuing to diversify, and they also seem more willing to take chances. Project shield is ambitious, but risky. An Android gaming handheld running a stock Google OS sounds like a dream come true, but then again handheld gaming is in a serious decline. Tegra 4 is powerful, but this power hungry chip has some serious competition. And finally the GeForce Grid is an amazing experience, but will cloud GPU rendering demand remain a niche?</p>
<p>Nvidia has some challenges ahead in 2013, but are also pumping out some fairly impressive and bold innovations.</p>
<p>Check out the full keynote below. <strong>NOTE: **FAST FORWARD TO 56:30**</strong></p>
<p><object id="clip_embed_player_flash" width="620" height="378" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.twitch.tv/widgets/archive_embed_player.swf" bgcolor="#000000"><param name="movie" value="http://www.twitch.tv/widgets/archive_embed_player.swf" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="flashvars" value="channel=nvidia&amp;start_volume=25&amp;title=Join%2Bus%2Bhere%2BSunday%252C%2BJan%2B6%2Bat%2B8%253A00%2BPM%2BPST%2Bfor%2Bthe%2Blive%2Bwebcast%2Bour%2Bspecial%2Bevent%2521&amp;archive_id=354775190&amp;auto_play=false" /></object></p><p><a class="trk" style="padding: 2px 0px 4px; display: block; width: 320px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline; text-align: center;" href="http://www.twitch.tv/nvidia">Watch live video from nvidiaofficial on TwitchTV</a></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/nvidia_ces_2013_project_shield_console_tegra_4_and_onlive_style_cloud_gaming#commentsces 2013cloud gamingGamingHardwaremobilenvidiaonliveproject shieldtegrategra 4NewsMon, 07 Jan 2013 19:03:45 +0000Justin Kerr24780 at http://www.maximumpc.comOnLive Implodes, and is Re-Born On Life Support All In One Dayhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/onlive_implodes_and_re-born_life_support_all_one_day
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u46173/onlive-logo.png" alt="OnLive" style="float: right;" /></p>
<p>As OnLive’s 200 some odd employees gathered in the conference room for an all hands meeting on Friday, few expected the company to completely and utterly implode, but that’s exactly what happened. We resisted the temptation to write this up immediately as the story was still developing, but as of noon hour on Sunday, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/17/source-onlive-undergoing-acquisition-in-wake-of-dire-financials/">Engadget is reporting</a> that anywhere from 80 to 90 percent of the staff have been laid off. They also report that OnLive’s assets appear to have been bought up by an as-yet-unknown third party company, though we expect this will be clarified over the next few days.</p>
<p>This leaves OnLive in a very interesting position where they are “technically” still open for business, but are in a very vulnerable financial position. It’s unclear at this point what will happen to OnLive subscribers who have purchased games if the company fails to survive or is dissolved. Our gut tells us these unfortunate souls will be left will little more than a life lesson, and it should serve as a warning for those of us who believe the cloud is completely infallible. &nbsp;</p>
<p>To be fair OnLive is still alive and well at the moment, however given how many employees seem to be leaving the building with moving boxes, I would think twice before I purchase anything else using the service. We have little doubt that the streaming technology will come in handy to whomever swooped in to bail out the company, however its possible OnLive as a service is simply ahead of its time.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Follow Justin on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/justinkerr">Twitter</a></em></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/onlive_implodes_and_re-born_life_support_all_one_day#commentsbankruptcyGamingHardwareonliveSoftwarestreamingNewsSun, 19 Aug 2012 18:22:24 +0000Justin Kerr24008 at http://www.maximumpc.comOuya to Have OnLive's Game Streaming Service at Launch http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/ouya_have_onlives_game_streaming_service_launch
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="http://www.maximumpc.com/files/u46168/ouya-onlive_630x.jpg" width="228" height="128" style="float: right;" />Having far outstripped its original Kickstarter funding goal of $995,000, Android-based video game console Ouya has already earned a place in the annals of crowdfunding history. But the real challenge for the Ouya team will begin when the $99 machine hits the market next year, for their ultimate goal is building a great console. While the possibility of Ouya foundering under the weight of all this hype can not be ruled out, prenatal celebrity has its fair share of advantages too. </p>
<p>It is due to this hype that the Ouya team has managed to attract game streaming service OnLive to their platform. OnLive announced the availability of its cloud gaming service on Ouya in a <a href="http://blog.onlive.com/2012/07/27/onlive-comes-to-ouya/">blog post</a> Friday. According to the announcement, the service will be available on the hacker-friendly console at launch.</p>
<p>“OnLive will deliver a full console-class experience, bringing hundreds of top-tier games from more than 80 publishers to the OUYA console for play on demand,” wrote OnLive General Manager Bruce Grove.</p>
<p>“Instant demos will be available for nearly every game in our ever-growing library-from eagerly anticipated indie titles like Ravaged, to hot blockbusters like the upcoming Darksiders® II. Players can experience up to 30 minutes of each game for free before deciding what to buy. If they like it, they can continue playing where the demo left off.”</p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/ouya_have_onlives_game_streaming_service_launch#commentscloud gamingkickstarteronliveouyaNewsSat, 28 Jul 2012 05:59:26 +0000Pulkit Chandna23857 at http://www.maximumpc.comRumor: Game Streaming Service Gaikai on the Blockhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/rumor_game_streaming_service_gaikai_block
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u46168/s4.jpg" width="228" height="128" style="float: right;" />The recent leak of an internal Microsoft document related to the Xbox 360’s successor has brought to light the <a href="http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/06/more-xbox-leaks-microsoft-once-considered-an-onlive-acquisition/">software giant’s wariness of cloud gaming services like OnLive</a>, which it identified as a “potential acquisition target” in the 2010 document. Of course, no such acquisition has taken place so far. But if Microsoft is still considering buying a cloud gaming company, another less expensive company may be up for sale.</p>
<p>According to Fortune’s Dan Primack, <a href="http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/06/21/exclusive-gaming-company-gaikai-seeks-buyer/">OnLive’s lesser-known rival Gaikai is on the block</a> and the asking price is north of $500 million. His sources have told him that the company has already hired bankers to help sell itself. While this is still a rumor, the alleged asking price is considerably less than the billion-dollar figures usually tossed around when the subject of OnLive’s possible worth comes up for discussion.</p>
<p>Despite having been in OnLive’s shadow all these years, Gaikai has started to come into its own lately with a number of important partnerships, including deals with both Samsung and LG for delivering cloud-powered games to their smart TVs.</p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/rumor_game_streaming_service_gaikai_block#commentscloud gaminggaikaigame streamingonliverumorNewsMon, 25 Jun 2012 11:39:11 +0000Pulkit Chandna23642 at http://www.maximumpc.comLeaked Documents Show Microsoft Considered Buying OnLivehttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/leaked_documents_show_microsoft_considered_buying_onlive
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u46173/onlive5.jpg" alt="OnLive" style="float: right;" />As PC enthusiasts you have every right to be skeptical of OnLive as a service, but let’s just say we are impressed beyond belief that it works at all. Nothing will ever beat the experience you get with a tricked out PC, however anyone who has fired up Crysis on a netbook and actually given the service a fair shake knows they’ve managed the impossible. It would seem Microsoft agrees, and actually considering <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/16/3091693/microsoft-considered-buying-onlive-rumor">buying the service before it got too dangerous</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>A 56-page document that allegedly leaked by Microsoft has given some insight into what the next generation of console hardware might look like, but also detailed a list of “threats”. The document warned management that OnLive could "up-end the console gaming market by making expensive consoles and PCs unnecessary for AAA gaming." They went on to theorize that partnerships with ISP’s could even allow for subsidized or even free hardware with a subscription. Because of this the author labeled them as a “potential acquisition target”.</p>
<p>Considering the fact that the documents are now almost two years old, it’s safe to say Microsoft decided against it. It’s always fun however to sit around and wonder how close they came to pulling the trigger, and what if anything they would have done with the service. Maybe Microsoft even considered upgrading the Xbox 360 with the technology, allowing them to offer improved graphics and visuals without a hardware refresh. Crazy I know, but let us know your theories in the comments below.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>UPDATE:</strong> The documents on Scribd have been removed at the request of <a href="http://www.scribd.com/word/removal/92821757">Covington &amp; Burling LLP</a>.</p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/leaked_documents_show_microsoft_considered_buying_onlive#commentsacquisitionGamingmicrosoftonliveNewsSun, 17 Jun 2012 16:48:07 +0000Justin Kerr23597 at http://www.maximumpc.comOnLive Shipping with All Google TV Deviceshttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/onlive_shipping_all_google_tv_devices
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u94712/picture1.png" alt="onlive" width="228" height="142" style="float: right;" />Google TV had a rough launch last year without a doubt. Although things are starting to look up for Google’s living room push with a slew of new devices being announced, and now a <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/11/game-streaming-service-onlive-to-be-preloaded-on-all-google-tvs/">partnership </a>with OnLive. At CES today, OnLive confirmed that its game streaming service will be shipping pre-installed on all Google TV devices. Let the gaming begin.</p>
<p>OnLive is a service that allows users to run serious PC games in the cloud without the need for heavy-duty hardware. The games are rendered in the OnLive servers, then the video is streamed down as control input is passed upstream. Having this service built into Google TV turns each unit into a gaming console. Unfortunately, the service isn’t completely ready for prime time on Google TV. The app will only work in spectator mode at first, with an update bringing full gaming capability later on.&nbsp;</p>
<p>OnLive says it is working closely with Google to get the service working as intended on the platform. Customers will be able to buy PC games from OnLive on Google TV, but there is also a $10 per-month unlimited plan that includes access to over 100 games.&nbsp;</p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/onlive_shipping_all_google_tv_devices#commentsces 2012GamingGoogleGoogle TVonlivestreamingNewsWed, 11 Jan 2012 23:13:45 +0000Ryan Whitwam22204 at http://www.maximumpc.comOnLive Desktop App Streams Windows Desktop, MS Office to iPadhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/onlive_desktop_app_streams_windows_desktop_ms_office_ipad
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u46168/onlive-desktop.jpg" width="228" height="152" style="float: right;" />Palo Alto-based OnLive is expanding its presence in the cloud beyond its eponymous streaming game service. The company, which debuted the OnLive app for mobile (Android for now) as recently as last month, is now gearing up to stream “a seamless Windows desktop experience” to a variety of devices, beginning with the Apple iPad later this week.</p>
<p>Even though the cloud gaming app that it announced in early December has yet to appear in the App Store, the company has chosen the iPad as the debut client platform for its <a href="http://desktop.onlive.com/overview">OnLive Desktop VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) service</a>. But unlike the previous app announcement, the company has announced a specific release date this time. The OnLive Desktop app for iPad will arrive on Thursday, as per the official announcement.</p>
<p>“Launching a brand-new chapter for OnLive (and everyone), OnLive Desktop gives users instant access to a seamless Windows desktop experience, with full-featured Microsoft Office applications and 2 GB of free cloud storage for secure file access anywhere,” wrote <a href="http://blog.onlive.com/2012/01/09/onlive-desktop-ipad-does-windows/">OnLive’s CEO and Founder&nbsp; Steve Perlman in a blog post Monday</a>.</p>
<p>Following its launch on the iPad, the service will expand to iPhone, Android, Mac and PC. Also, those with an OnLive MicroConsole will be able to access the cloud-based Windows 7 environment on an ordinary TV.</p>
<p>Besides the standard service that is absolutely free and includes 2GB of cloud storage, there will also be a paid service called OnLive Desktop Pro. This $9.99/month service will include 50GB of cloud storage and the ability add additional PC apps. But as these two plans may simply not be adequate for enterprise needs, the company has also announced a third, IT-managed service tier called OnLive Enterprise.</p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/onlive_desktop_app_streams_windows_desktop_ms_office_ipad#commentsandroidDesktopiPadms officeonliveonlive desktopvdivirtual desktop interfaceWindowsNewsWed, 11 Jan 2012 14:40:36 +0000Pulkit Chandna22186 at http://www.maximumpc.comHTC Investments Hint at OnLive for Android Tabletshttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/htc_investments_hint_onlive_android_tablets
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u69/onlive_tablet.jpg" width="228" height="183" style="float: right;" />HTC made a couple of rather interesting moves this week, starting with the "strategic investment in Saffron Digital," or so <a href="http://www.htc.com/us/press/htc-makes-strategic-investment-in-saffron-digital-a-leader-in-digital-multimedia-delivery/24">HTC says</a> on its website. According to <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110207-715357.html"><em>The Wall Street Journal</em></a>, HTC will acquire the London-based mobile platform firm outright, which HTC says will prove a "key asset as content becomes more and more complex and localized." But that's only half the story.</p>
<p>HTC, which has built a following by being one of the first to aggressively support Google's Android platform in the smartphone sector, is also investing $40 million into OnLive, company spokeswoman Maggie Cheng told <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>. According to Cheng, HTC is picking up 5.3 million OnLive shares at $7.50 a pop.</p>
<p>The rest is speculation, but these investments would seem to indicate that OnLive is headed for Android tablets. With the upcoming launch of Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), HTC and other tablet makers will finally have a viable Android OS to built a slate around. And because OnLive relies on the cloud rather than a local CPU or graphics hardware, well, you see where this is going.</p>
<p>Does the thought of OnLiving gaming on a tablet excite you, or will you stick with your PC/console, thank you very much?</p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/htc_investments_hint_onlive_android_tablets#commentsbusinessGamingHardwarehtcmaximum techmobileonlivesaffron digitalSoftwaretabletVideogamesNewsTue, 08 Feb 2011 17:12:48 +0000Paul Lilly17068 at http://www.maximumpc.comOnLive Branching Out to iPad and Android, Can Stream Windows Appshttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/onlive_branching_out_ipad_and_android_can_stream_windows_apps
<!--paging_filter--><p>Cloud gaming service OnLive is giving us a little glimpse into their future offerings with an <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2010/12/07/in-another-stunner-onlive-enables-game-spectating-and-windows-7-apps-on-your-ipad/">iPad version of the client</a>. This app will only allow spectating in live games, as there are no games with touchscreen controls yet. What's perhaps more interesting, is that OnLive will let you run Windows 7 apps on the iPad through their service. That's potentially huge if executed well. The iPad is currently the only device supported, but an Android beta should be available in the near future according to VentureBeat.&nbsp;</p>
<p>So here's the big question: how will Apple take this? Apple would probably prefer that any enterprise Windows apps be adapted to iOS and submitted the old fashioned way, but if OnLive is successful, that could be unnecessary. If developers get in bed with OnLive, and users can just pay a flat fee to access a ton of games in the cloud, Apple might see a hit in the App Store.</p>
<p>OnLive recently released the Micros Console unit for customers to plug into their TV, and also announced a $10 flat fee gaming plan. OnLive may have seemed like a pie in the sky fantasy last year, but it's becoming more interesting as time goes on.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u94712/onlive-4.jpg" alt="onlive" width="400" height="313" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/onlive_branching_out_ipad_and_android_can_stream_windows_apps#commentsandroidcloudGamingiosiPadmobileonlivetabletsWindowsNewsTue, 07 Dec 2010 23:00:13 +0000Ryan Whitwam15998 at http://www.maximumpc.comOnLive Console Costs a Benjamin, Other Pricing Details Revealedhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/onlive_console_costs_benjamin_other_pricing_details_revealed
<!--paging_filter--><p>The OnLive Game System is <a href="http://www.onlive.com/corporate/press_releases/onlive_announces_flat_rate_plan">now shipping</a> for $99, which includes the MicroConsole bundle and a controller. From now until January 15, 2011, OnLive console owners get access to the PlayPack games library, in beta, free of charge. Titles included in the PlayPack library are as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Prince of Persia</li>
<li>NBA 2K10</li>
<li>Tomb Raider: underworld</li>
<li>F.E.A.R. 2</li>
<li>Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.</li>
<li>Unreal Tournament 3</li>
<li>Vin Diesel Wheelman</li>
<li>Lego Batman</li>
<li>Defense Grid Gold</li>
<li>Saw</li>
<li>World of Goo</li>
</ul>
<p>Once January 15th rolls around, access to the PlayPack will run $9.99/month as a flat-rate plan. In addition, OnLive will continue to offer its current free trials, 3- and 5-day rentals, and Full PlayPass options for a la carte new releases, the company said.</p>
<p>The OnLive system is unique in that it operates entirely on the cloud. It works surprisingly well with better-than-expected responsiveness and some noteworthy features, like built-in 'Brag Clip' controls on the controller that let you capture snippets of gameplay up to 10 seconds at a time.</p>
<p>Read our full review of the OnLive system (including an 8 minute video) right <a href="http://www.maximumpc.com/article/reviews/onlive_micro_console_review">here</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u69/onlive.jpg" alt="" width="405" height="247" /></p>
<h5 style="text-align: left;">Image Credit: OnLive</h5>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/onlive_console_costs_benjamin_other_pricing_details_revealed#commentsconsoleGamingGaming HardwareHardwaremaximum techonliveplaypackplaypassVideogamesNewsFri, 03 Dec 2010 14:18:34 +0000Paul Lilly15925 at http://www.maximumpc.comOnLive Micro Console Review http://www.maximumpc.com/article/onlive_micro_console_review
<!--paging_filter--><p class="MsoNormal">Adhering to the maxim that technology is an ever and rapidly evolving beast, OnLive’s latest micro-console pushes cloud based gaming into a brave and viable new world.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At first glance, OnLive isn’t a whole lot to look at—and we like that.&nbsp; At roughly 5x4x1.25 inches, it’s compact and easy to carry around, which is kind of the point, isn’t it?&nbsp; Flip the sleek black and orange device around, and you’ll see a single port for all your needs, including an HDMI, Ethernet and speaker port.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s tremendously simple to operate.&nbsp; Plug in all of your needed cables, and swap to the proper input on your monitor or HD screen.&nbsp; OnLive functions as a virtual interface that operates within the cloud, allowing you to stream games that you purchase, demo, or rent from the marketplace, which is also easy to navigate.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The interface also allows users to watch other gameplay sessions going on in the OnLive world, which is an awesome feature that can allow users to get a peek into the game they may be thinking about buying.&nbsp; According to reps at OnLive, many users simply log into the service to watch other people game.&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u107541/onlive1.jpg" alt="" width="384" height="293" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>The controller has a great feel to it. </strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If all this sounds familiar, don't be alarmed.&nbsp; You're not crazy.&nbsp; We realize that this sounds remarkably similar to Steam, but there's one pivotal difference:&nbsp; You don't need high-powered hardware or a full sized modern console system to play games like Assassins Creed 2 or Shaun White Skateboarding.&nbsp; Everything--and we mean everything--is handled in the cloud by OnLive's massive array of servers.&nbsp; The company has multiple classes of servers dedicated to low-end and high-end games.&nbsp; Over time, OnLive plans to scale their servers down, so the high-end servers will become low-end as the minimum system requirements for these games increase.&nbsp; For now, most of the games are PC SKUs, although OnLive has indicated that this will change as more game publishers come on board.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After putting aside the marvel of the devices' simplicity and compatibility, the real question of course is whether or not OnLive is a viable game system and service?&nbsp; OnLive, which was released earlier this year as a PC and Mac client capable of of the same game-streaming functionality, was previously panned by critics for shoddy image quality and <a href="http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/06/18/onlive-is-out-and-it-works-for-some/">stutter-y performance</a>, so how does this dedicated console version stack up?&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nws75opHre0?hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nws75opHre0?hl=en&amp;fs=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’re happy to say that, for the most part, it works well.&nbsp; We were impressed by the 720p output image quality when testing in the lab—the games were often recreated as sharply as they would be if they were running on a middle-of-the-road PC, or a current console like an Xbox 360.&nbsp; We ran <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOqND_TTxH4">Arkham Asylum</a> (which still, a full year and a half later, looks great in our opinion) through our paces, and were pretty impressed with the amount of detail we saw on display, though we did notice minor texture hiccups (a result, we figure, of compression artifacts caught in the cloud) that weren’t <em>distracting</em> per say, but were definitely noticeable.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Actual gameplay delivered similar results.&nbsp; For the most part, OnLive functioned great—we realized that Arkham wasn’t really the best game to test split second reflexes, so we loaded up Dirt 2, and it was very responsive, even when we took it into our homes to test it under lower bandwidth settings.&nbsp; The controller (which rumbles!) itself is sleek and simple, and tailored much more in the vein of an Xbox 360 controller than a PS3 one; a design choice that we support (you need full triggers to play first person shooters, damnit!).&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The controller also features built in 'Brag Clip' controls that allow you to capture great gameplay moments for others to see.&nbsp; You're able to record up to 10 seconds at a time, and store and compare your videos with others on the OnLive cloud.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In congruence with the <em>minor </em>visual gripes we found, we noticed extremely minor gameplay hiccups during our, ahem, testing.&nbsp; On rare occasions, the controller would kind of begin to function on its own, affected by what we figure to be tiny lag jumps, though this happened very rarely and usually only for a second or so.&nbsp; Still, if you’re playing a game that requires split second reflexes, these minor hiccups can become minor annoyances.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"></span>But many of these glitches can be forgiven when you consider the price. At a $100.00, OnLive is really a bargain.&nbsp; There is no monthly subscription fee, you’ve only got to pay for the games themselves.&nbsp; And the OnLive interface makes this easy to do, offering you the multiple ‘rental’ options if you don’t want to outright buy the game, and also allows you to demo any of the games in the marketplace for 30 minutes, free of charge.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are a few causes of concern we considering this, however:&nbsp; Does ‘buying’ a game on a cloud imply ownership?&nbsp; Also, how many games will eventually populate the marketplace?&nbsp; On launch, OnLive will only come with 35 titles, many of which are slightly dated.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In other words, OnLive has the <em>technical</em> capability to handle cloud-based gaming, but lacks <em>presence</em> in their market.&nbsp; Only time will tell whether developers will embrace this platform, and choose to run with it (more on this later).&nbsp; There are classic games in the marketplace, yes, but there certainly aren’t many new ones. In the end, we’re cautiously optimistic about where this will go.&nbsp; The platform and the interface are nicely built—who knows, we could be glancing at the early blue prints of the future of gaming.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s a gamble that will be interesting to keep an eye on, as its success is no longer dependant on hardware limitations, but the interest garnered from game developers.&nbsp; But with strong new titles confirmed on the horizon—Assassins Creed: Brotherhood, F.E.A.R 3, and Duke Nukem Forever, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, to name a few —and a compact, inexpensive, and sleek form factor, we’re impressed, and positively curious about the future of cloud based gaming.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-source-site">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Source Site:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Maximum Tech </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-source-link">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Source Link:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
http://www.maximumtech.com/onlive-micro-console-review </div>
</div>
</div>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/onlive_micro_console_review#commentsconsoleGamingmaximum techMaximum Tech ReviewsonliveReviewsThu, 18 Nov 2010 16:00:00 +0000Alan Fackler 15690 at http://www.maximumpc.comGaikai to Begin Streaming Game Demos in Decemberhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/gaikai_begin_streaming_game_demos_december
<!--paging_filter--><p>OnLive will have to contend with a little more than just leery onlookers and lack of optimum internet infrastructure in a couple of months' time. Streaming games service <a href="http://mhttp//www.vg247.com/2010/10/08/david-perry-gaikai-already-feature-complete-will-be-out-of-beta-in-mid-december/">Gaikai is now feature complete and due for a December, 2011 launch</a>, according to the company's co-founder and CEO David Perry. While Gaikai can look ahead to the same challenges as its better-known and more experienced rival, its approach to cloud gaming is markedly different. </p>
<p> Gaikai will stream subscription-free game demos to Flash-capable web browsers. This is how the company describes the service on its website: “Just like publishers and developers, retailers pay by the minute for the time that games are streamed on their sites. Once the user finishes playing, they are directed to your store -- still high on the excitement of the demo -- to complete the sale. Giving visitors the chance to try games before they buy can help them overcome hestiation and can faciliate impulse buys.”</p>
<p> So it isn't really a direct rival to OnLive, at least not until it starts streaming full games, but things could change.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="../../files/u46168/gaikai-demo.png" alt="" width="400" height="230" /></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/gaikai_begin_streaming_game_demos_december#commentscloud gamingflashgaikaigamesonlivestreaming gamesNewsMon, 11 Oct 2010 14:54:51 +0000Pulkit Chandna14984 at http://www.maximumpc.comOnLive Abolishes Monthly Subscription Modelhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/onlive_abolishes_monthly_subscription_model
<!--paging_filter--><p>Cloud gaming startup OnLive has been vacillating on its monthly subscription fee from its very inception. While it initially set out to charge $14.95 per month for the streaming games service, it not only lowered the monthly fee to $4.95 just before launch, but also offered a free one year subscription to early adopters – those who signed up during the service's inaugural month. But the company seems to have finally found a solution to its pricing conundrum.</p>
<p> OnLive has <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2010/10/04/onlive-eliminates-monthly-fees-for-games-on-demand-service/">permanently abolished the monthly subscription</a>. According to Steve Perlman, founder and CEO of OnLive, this is what the startup always wanted but was waiting to for the right moment.</p>
<p> “Although we wish we could have confirmed no monthly fee from the get-go, pioneering a major new video game paradigm is hard: we had to first grow to a large base of regular users before we could understand usage patterns and operating cost,” Perlman wrote in a <a href="http://blog.onlive.com/2010/10/04/onlive-just-play-for-free/">blog post</a>.</p>
<p> “Now that we’ve reached that stage, we can confidently say a monthly fee is not needed, which deserves a double WOOT! WOOT!”</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://dl.maximumpc.com/galleries/onlive/OnLive_hands_R1_sm.png" alt="" width="350" height="263" /></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/onlive_abolishes_monthly_subscription_model#commentscloud gamingconsumer electronicsGamingmaximum techonlivestreaming gamesNewsTue, 05 Oct 2010 12:03:59 +0000Pulkit Chandna14870 at http://www.maximumpc.com